Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring Safety in Construction is a 25-minute online course that covers cave-in prevention, soil classification, and protective system requirements for excavation work as regulated under OSHA's 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P. It is designed for excavation crews, competent persons, and construction site supervisors and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.
Trenching and excavation work is among the most dangerous operations in construction. OSHA reports that trench collapses killed 39 workers in 2022 alone, prompting the agency to launch a National Emphasis Program with a zero-tolerance enforcement policy for unprotected trenches. Federal OSHA and state plan agencies have since driven fatalities down significantly - to 15 in 2023 and 12 in 2024 - but the hazard remains lethal. A single cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car, and workers trapped in a cave-in have very little time before the weight causes suffocation or crushing injuries. Every excavation deeper than five feet requires a protective system unless the work is in stable rock.
This course trains your employees on the fundamentals of safe excavation and trenching. Your team will learn to identify the three OSHA soil classifications - Type A, Type B, and Type C - and understand how soil type determines which protective systems are required. The training covers sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding as protective methods, and explains the role of the competent person in inspecting trenches, classifying soil, and making real-time safety decisions. Your crews will understand what must happen before, during, and after excavation to prevent the cave-in hazards that continue to kill construction workers every year.
Excavation safety is regulated under OSHA's 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (sections 1926.650 through 1926.652), which requires employers to protect workers in any trench five feet or deeper from cave-in hazards using sloping, shoring, or shielding systems. A competent person must inspect the excavation daily and after any change in conditions before workers may enter. OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, established in 2018, enforces a zero-tolerance policy for unprotected trenches and has contributed to a significant decline in fatalities - from 39 in 2022 to 12 in 2024. Despite this progress, excavation remains one of the most lethal construction activities. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, while willful violations - such as allowing workers in an unprotected trench - can reach $165,514. For excavations 20 feet or deeper, a registered professional engineer must design the protective system. Employers must also ensure egress (ladders, ramps, or stairways) within 25 feet of lateral travel for any trench four feet or deeper.
| Team Size | Price per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 - 9 | $24.95 |
| 10 - 24 | $19.95 |
| 25 - 49 | $17.95 |
| 50 - 99 | $17.50 |
This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.
Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.